The Difference Between the Music Industry & The Recording Industry

Written by Jeremy Belcher, Editor of Think Like a Label, a magazine for musicians & their people.

After publishing Why You Should Give Your Music Away for Free on Music Think Tank, I have been inundated with articles, comments, and other assorted replies decrying that the new digital music business models are killing the music industry. It got me thinking about a crucial distinction that is being overlooked, and the consequences of doing so are preventing many from seeing the opportunities that are abound. It boils down to one main concept.

The Music Industry is different than the Recording Industry, and these terms should not be used interchangeably.

Allow me to explain.

The Music Industry is a huge, overarching behemoth that includes all kinds of different smaller industries. For example:

Recording

Licensing

Touring & Live

Merchandise

Print & Web Design

Publishing

Marketing, Advertising & Public Relations

Video Production

Magazines & Newspapers

Instrument Design & Manufacturing

Music Hardware & Software

These are just the ones off the top of my head…I could go on if I kept thinking about it. The bottom line is that any business that is involved in music in any way can be considered part of the music industry. If you are a graphic designer who spends their time designing album art, or a bus driver who drives tour busses all over the country, then you are in the music industry.